Fire Technology
The fire technology program at Odessa College offers students the opportunity to be trained for careers in the fire service profession. The program is designed to meet the needs of students desiring to become entry-level certified firefighters through the Certificate of Completion – Fire Academy curriculum. Firefighters who are currently certified can advance in the profession by pursuing an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree in Fire Administration.
The Certificate of Completion – Fire Academy curriculum is offered as an innovative online Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) certified Basic Firefighter Academy. Odessa College’s Fire Academy (OCFA) offers on campus and online firefighter training which combines traditional and contemporary methodologies and is designed to allow the student to be gainfully employed upon completion of 24 college credit hours. While taking the 17 week course of study Monday through Friday online, the student will be required to attend 16 Saturdays of mandatory all day on campus skill practice. The online interactive study will provide the student with basic fire suppression and hazardous materials knowledge and procedures needed to take and pass the TCFP written state test for certification. The Saturday practicum will be used to develop skill proficiency, enabling the student to pass the TCFP state skill test and give the student opportunity to develop additional practical skills needed in the career of firefighting.
It is preferred that all students enrolled in the Certificate of Completion – Fire Academy program receive an EMT Basic certification from the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) within 2 years of completing the Fire Academy. This will allow the student to earn an additional 6 college credit hours and enhance employment opportunities with fire departments throughout the state of Texas. The 24 college credit hours obtained from the successful completion of the Certificate of Completion – Fire Academy, as well as the 6 college credit hours earned for EMT-Basic, can then be applied toward an AAS Degree in Fire Administration if the student desires to further their education.
The goal of the OCFA is to provide a well-rounded educational experience and give the student the necessary training to become certified through the TCFP and TDSHS and obtain a career in the profession of firefighting.
The High School Fire Academy (HSFA) is an innovative on campus Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) certified Basic Firefighter Academy. The academy offers on campus firefighter training that begins at the start of the student’s junior year of high school and is completed in the fall semester of the senior year. The firefighter training will provide the student the basic knowledge to pass the TCFP state test. In the spring semester of the senior year, students will take the EMT-Basic courses. The EMT training will provide the student the basic knowledge to pass the EMT-Basic certification through the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) upon graduation from high school. The student is able to attend the HSFA during high school hours with some Saturday scheduling in their second year. The student can earn dual credit while enrolled in the HSFA and graduate the academy with 30 college credit hours and 4 high school credits upon completion. After successfully completing all training at the end of the senior year, the student will be state certified in both Basic Firefighter and EMT-Basic upon successfully passing both certification examinations.
The goal of the HSFA is to provide the youth of our community the opportunity to pursue a career in the fire service and to be certified through the TCFP and TDSHS and to become employable in fire service immediately following graduation from high school.
The AAS Degree in Fire Administration offers students the opportunity to apply credits earned in the Certificate of Completion – Fire Academy program to the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Fire Administration. This allows students opportunities to further their education and advance into supervisory and upper management positions within the profession. The AAS degree offers both on campus and online education opportunities. Students may transfer to a university for further education and earn a bachelor degree to become a leader in the fire service profession.
Enrollment in FIRS practicum and EMSP clinical courses requires student liability insurance payable in college course fees and personal health and accident insurance. If the student does not have a health and accident policy, student health insurance must be purchased prior to the first day of class.
All students must have consent from the department director and/or academy coordinator to register for any fire academy class prior to registering.
The Fire Academy program’s grading scale for the FIRS courses at Odessa College for a grade of “C” is awarded for numeric grades set forth by the program. To be eligible for graduation and Course Completion Verification, the Fire Academy student must have completed each of the prescribed courses in the curriculum with a minimum grade of “C.” Each of the non-FIRS courses required for the degree must also be passed with a minimum grade of “C.” The candidate for graduation must score satisfactorily on the Fire Academy Program Exit exam, satisfactorily pass all TCFP required skills, satisfy all college financial obligations, complete a degree application in the Registrar’s Office (if applying for an Associate in Applied Science Degree or Certificate of Completion) by the specified deadline, and return any borrowed school property.
Upon successful completion of all Level I-Basic Firefighter FIRS courses with a minimum grade of “C” in each course, the student will receive a Fire Technology department approved course completion certificate issued by the TCFP approved Program Director and Coordinator which is required for eligibility to test for certification with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection.
FIRE ACADEMY PASS RATES:
|
Year |
|
Texas Pass Rate |
|
2018 |
98% |
82% |
|
2017 |
99% |
82% |
|
2016 |
100% |
82% |
*Data collected from the TCFP reports.
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